Togo remains EU’s top organic soybean supplier, worldwide

Agriculture

Monday, 12 July 2021 17:42

Togo remains EU’s top organic soybean supplier, worldwide

(Togo First) - For the second consecutive year, Togo is the country that exported the largest volume of organic soybeans to Europe. The West African nation, according to a report recently released by the EU Commission, sent 51,000 of the crop to the Schengen Area.

This is 20% more than the volume it exported to the same region in 2019, knowingly 42,300 t.

In the 2020 ranking, Togo came ahead of Ukraine (28,000 t), India (15,000 t), and Kazakhstan (11,000 t). Other African countries that distinguished themselves include Uganda (8,000 t), Benin (6,000 t), and Burkina Faso (5,000 t).

Regarding organic agro-food products, the report’s authors indicated that Togo exported 54,017 tons to the EU in 2020 (against 44,684 t the year before). It ranked 13th worldwide in this aspect, and second in Africa, standing behind Tunisia and right before Egypt - the same as in 2019.

According to Togolese authorities, the country’s performances, “once again are proof that the government gives particular attention to organic farming and to the actors of this agricultural value chain.” By particular attention, the authorities refer, among others, to a battery of reforms launched via the Mécanisme incitatif de financement agricole (Mifa), a mechanism to boost agricultural financing.

Togo produced 176,000 tons of soybeans in 2019-2020. Of this volume, 160,000 tons of organic and non-organic beans were exported, for about CFA50 billion.

Esaïe Edoh

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.